Ive been thinking lately that my Mesa Mark IV is not cutting it anymore. I put a Maxon OD808 in front of it and I'm still not satisfied(Dont get me wrong, this amp is one of the best Ive had, but for in your face metal, Im not happy). People have been telling me to check out the Engl Powerball. What do you guys use for balls to the wall metal? Im also interested in hearing this new VHT Deliverance head. What does Andy use on most of his recordings?

And the rectifier blew everyones' heads off. Unbelievable metal amp. I always tend to favor the Mesa gear. If you like the character of the Mark IV, it may be a logical step to check out the rectifiers.

What are you going for tonally, and what is it you don't like about the Mark IV? What, specifically, is the Mark IV not doing for you?

If I may ask, what are your Mark IV settings? The Mark IV's controls are sort of counterintuitive compared to a more "normal" amp. It's very mid-heavy, to the point where you can't really dial out mids without the graphic EQ, and the amp's bass control adds more mud than anything past about three or four on the dial. And it's very dark without turning the treble up. Despite all these seeming "issues", the Mark IV is actually capable of a wide variety of tones due to the graphic EQ and power stage options.

I used the following settings with an EMG-loaded Jackson tuned to B or A for death metal with my Mark IV. With a boost pedal and the EMGs, it was the tightest thing going next to possibly a VHT.

Thanks so much for the settings man. But I think the Mark IV is getting the boot anyway. I looked at the Krank Revolution, and it blew me away. Im going to go try to tweak the Mark IV a little more, but it looks like the Krank is what Im gunning for.

tried and true over and over again, the dual rectifier is the mighty of the mighty.

if you like the mark iv but aren't happy with the "metalness" then like moonlapse stated, you might like the dual recto.

if you can try to get one off ebay, the 2 ch dual rectifier from the early 90's has the most fabled recto sound. i have the road king series 1 myself and the ch3 on it according to mesa tech mike t. is a faithful reproduction of the 2 channels second distortion channel dubbed "orange"

it sounds great for balls metal. i also really like the "cut" you get on a road king when you engage the el34's in addition to the quad 6L6's especially in the vintage mode on ch3 with the rectifier setting to tube rectified.

sounds good with the right pups. i prefer my C tuned ibanez with dimarzio EVOS. sounds very very tight. or my ibanez 7 string with a dimarzio blaze in bridge

Thanks so much for the settings man. But I think the Mark IV is getting the boot anyway. I looked at the Krank Revolution, and it blew me away. Im going to go try to tweak the Mark IV a little more, but it looks like the Krank is what Im gunning for.

i understand your dillemma but i think the mark iv is such a great amp maybe you should look harder as to why you can't get a good tone. i have one on the way it is at mesa factory getting some work done on it and i've tried them before, you can get such a powerful tone out of it. tried it on my friends 60' LP w. emg 81/85 and i've tried with my 7 string with dimarzios, it sounded pretty brutal, and i didn't even know the tonal functions of the amp that well. i've been to couple of lamb of gods concerts, during soundcheck they sound very very heavy. unless you want a more saturated gain tone in which case it's not your amp. i gues it's me, i like more "less gain" tones. even on my road king dual recto in modern mode i keep the gain around halfway. i am able to get a very very tight and focused dark sound.